When we think about Norse Mythology, it can be difficult to shake the image of an otherworldly Chris Hemsworth with bulging muscles, luscious golden locks and a distinctly sarcastic sense of humour.
While there’s certainly no shortage of ancient Viking lore enthusiasts, Marvel’s Thor brought it into the mainstream - especially at the height of its fame following the first film’s release in 2011.
Though characters like Thor, Odin, Loki and their respective powers are rooted in real mythology (a paradoxical phrase, we know), there’s a lot that the superhero films naturally skipped over or altered to suit a contemporary audience.
Just like Greek tales of the ancient gods of Mount Olympus and the antics they got up to in the mortal world, Norse mythology comprises a vast collection of myths and stories which were central to the culture and religion of the Vikings and other Germanic people throughout the medieval period.
The polytheistic religion had many key gods, but the one who is widely known to have ruled them all was Odin. Yet in an almost Romeo and Juliet-esque manner, the power of the gods was actually said to be divided between two warring families. The Æsir were led by Odin, the god of War and Death, and the Vanir were led by Njörðr, the god of the Wind and the Sea.
No matter how ugly the fights between the warring gods of Asgard got, and even with the threat of Ragnarök (the Norse concept of Armageddon) looming over their heads, both houses had to exist in order for all life in the human realm of Midgard and beyond to be sustained.
With that brief outline, we’ve barely scratched the surface. From the Norse story of creation from the flesh of the primordial being Ymir, to the story of the sacred tree Yggdrasil and the antics of Odin’s children, we’ve curated a selection of the best books about Norse mythology below. Keep scrolling to learn everything you need to know about summoning Thor’s mighty hammer, Mjölnir.
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Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman
A marvellously comprehensive compendium of Norse mythology from creation to Ragnarök, Gaiman serves as a wizard-like guide into the Viking world of ‘ole. Straddling fictional and non-fictional writing, Gaiman nevertheless manages to craft an entirely compelling yarn which reads like a novel.
Buy now £9.49, Amazon
The Penguin Book of Norse Myths by Kevin Crossley-Holland
Accessible and highly effective, Crossley-Holland’s book of Norse mythology covers everything you need to know and more. The author breathes new life into the already wondrous world of Scandinavian myth, retelling beloved stories in a manner that suits the contemporary reader.
Buy now £10.99, Amazon
The Witch's Heart Paperback by Genevieve Gornichec
A retelling of the story of Angrboða, the mother of monsters, Gornichec’s cult-favourite fantastical romance begins when the warrior witch survives a burning ordered by Odin after she refuses to share her knowledge of the future with the leader of the gods. She flees to the forest, where she’s found by the trickster god Loki. What ensues is a complicated, gut-wrenching story of love, family, betrayal and destiny.
Buy now £8.45, Amazon
Magnus Chase and the Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan
Though not exactly a novel for those looking to read an accurate and historical retelling of Norse mythology, Rick Riodarn’s (author of the Percy Jackson series) rollicking series is a brilliant read for enthusiasts of Viking culture and ancient Scandinavia.
The story begins when we’re introduced to Magnus Chase, a Boston native living on the wrong side of the tracks. By way of his estranged uncle, Magnus learns that his long-lost father is a Norse god and Asgard is on the brink of destruction. Unless Magnus can find an ancient sword lost by his father thousands of years ago, the entire world is at risk of succumbing to doomsday.
Buy now £8.35, Amazon
The Valkyrie by Kate Heartfield
A sapphic fantasy retelling of the well-known tragic, romantic legend of Brynhild, Gudrun and Sigurd. Brynhild is a Valkyrie, one of the powerful female warriors who serve Odin and are tasked with guiding the souls of soldiers to Valhalla.
Gudrun is a princess destined to be married off like a prize horse to an invading king, and Sigurd is a warrior with a sword sharper than the new moon. Their destinies become messily intertwined and altered forever when Brynhild is expelled by Odin from Valhalla and finds herself in Midgard.
Buy now £9.39, Amazon
East of the Sun and West of the Moon
Edited by Noel Daniel and featuring breathtakingly beautiful watercolour illustrations by beloved Danish artist Kay Nielsen, this abridged collection of mythology includes 10 famous Norse folktales.
First published in 1914, the stories were initially collated by Norwegian folklorists Peter Christen Asbjørnsen and Jørgen Engebretsen Moe on their journeys across Norway in the mid-19th century, and East of the Sun and West of the Moon quickly became a classic among children and adults alike.
Buy now £24.27, Amazon
The Poetic Edda, translated by Carolyne Larrington
The Poetic Edda is an ancient collection of Old Norse narrative poems in alliterative verse. A must-read for academics and casual enthusiasts alike, the grandiose poems are set following the destruction of the world during Ragnarök, when the Earth is born again.
Buy now £8.99, Amazon
